Another Sorrow. 423 



opened the meeting with his short, but fervent 

 prayer. The little children gathered around him 

 to kiss the aged cheek and nestle near the cherished 

 form." 



On the 12th of June, a blow came to the heart of 

 John Bachman, from which he never rallied the 

 death, after twenty-four hours' illness, of his son-in- 

 law, Mr. William E. Haskell, who, like a devoted 

 son, had watched over his declining years. He did 

 not murmur, but his mind seemed utterly over- 

 whelmed by the mysterious Providence that had left 

 the aged man, who earnestly longed to depart, and 

 had removed the younger the active worker, upon 

 whom so many depended. 



John Haskell rose from a bed of sickness, and, with 

 the strength of unselfish love, endeavored to fill up 

 the gap. With a tenderness akin to angel ministry, 

 he sought, and not in vain, to soothe and support 

 the aged sufferer, who looked up to and leaned upon 

 him-*-for " the almond tree " was beginning " to flour- 

 ish and desire to fail." The notes of the singing bird 

 no longer attracted his attention all was a blank 

 now save the voice of a friend, and the name of 

 Jesus. 



Another birthday (4th February), and again 

 another, was quietly celebrated in his home, and the 

 love-offerings called forth grateful smiles. His de- 

 cline was so gradual that his family were scarcely 

 conscious of it, until the twelfth of February, 1874. 



